Assessing a planning application

Step 1.Submitting your application

After you have submitted your application and the applicable fee has been paid, the application is accepted and assigned to a Planning Officer, who is responsible for assessing the application.

Once submitted you can sign into your account at any time to:

• Check the status of your application
• Respond to requests for further information (and upload any relevant documentation)
• Request any additional time to provide further information
• Request the application be withdrawn

Note you might be asked for further information if the mandatory documentation is/are not supplied. This can cause delays to your application, so it is highly recommended you use the Planning Checklist which outlines the relevant documentation needed to accept a planning application.

Find out more about submitting your planning permit application.

Step 2.Initial assessment

Once your application has been received, Council will undertake an initial assessment to confirm all required documentation and application details have been provided. A planning officer will review the proposal against relevant planning controls, policies and referral requirements to determine the next steps in the assessment process.

Applications are assessed in the order they are received, however processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the proposal and whether external referrals are required.

Step 3.Request for further information (RFI)

During the assessment process, Council may request additional information or amended plans to help clarify your proposal. This is known as a Request for Further Information (RFI).

If an RFI is issued, your application will be placed on hold until all requested information is received. Applicants generally have up to 90 days to respond before the application may lapse.

To respond to an RFI, you must log into your applicant portal account and upload the requested documents directly against your planning application by selecting the relevant application.

Please do not email large plans or supporting documents unless specifically requested by Council. Uploading documents through the applicant portal ensures your information is correctly linked to your application and avoids delays in processing.

If you require additional time to respond, you may request an extension in writing before the due date using the online portal.

Step 4.Giving public notice

Some planning permit applications are required to give notice of the application i.e. have it “advertised”. This means the application will be advertised to all persons likely to be affected by the proposal, usually the adjoining owners and occupiers.

The form of advertising required may include:

• Notifying owners/occupiers of adjoining properties by mail
• Sign on the site
• Advertisement in the local paper (The Guardian or the Sentinel)

The notice period is for 14 days and Council must consider all submissions (objections) received up until the time a decision is made, even if this takes longer than 14 days.

Council cannot make a decision on an application until the advertising and notice period is complete.

Find out more about advertised planning applications.

Step 5.Amendments to application

You may amend your application at any time during the process, however if you make an amendment after the notice period, the application may have to be re-advertised and an additional fee will be charged.   

Step 6.Decision

There are three types of decisions that can be made on a planning permit:

1. If there are no objections to the application and the application is supported, Council issues the planning permit.
2. If there is an objection to the application, the application will be heard at a Council meeting and Council will either:
   • Issue a Notice of Decision (NOD) to grant a planning permit or
   • Issue a Notice of Decision (NOD) to refuse to grant a planning permit
3. If the application is not supported, the application will be heard at a Council meeting and Council will either:
   • Issue a Notice of Decision (NOD) to refuse a planning permit or
   • Issue a Notice of Decision (NOD) to grant a planning permit

Notice of Decisions are not planning permits.  A notice of decision indicates that council is proposing to grant or refuse a permit. A notice of decision means that there is a period of 28 days in which an objector or 60 days which an applicant can appeal council's decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Find out more about objecting to a planning permit

Step 7.Appeal to VCAT

You can appeal to VCAT to review a Council decision about a planning permit application.

Find out more about appealing a planning permit decision.